A Supreme Court of Canada decision that invalidates a company’s multimillion-dollar monopoly on the impotence drug Viagra has sent a tough warning to corporations about playing fast and loose with patent applications.

Ruling unanimously against Pfizer Canada Inc., the court said that judges will not tolerate patent-seekers attempting to conceal the key ingredients of their discoveries.

Patent legislation amounts to a quid pro quo that offers inventors an exclusive monopoly in return for the forthright disclosure of all the ingredients of their product in their patent applications, Mr. Justice Louis LeBel said, writing for the court.

“If there is no quid – proper disclosure – then there can be no quo – exclusive property rights,” he said.

A stiff penalty, I’d say.

Desiato on
November 19th, 2012 at 13:05:

The Supreme Court has balls! I hope this erects a wall against bad patents, and that the message will penetrate the minds of these patent abusers.